Rio Grande do Sul has six dams at imminent risk of failure | Brazil

The government of Rio Grande do Sul reported this Sunday (5) that the total number of dams in an emergency situation with imminent risk of failure due to heavy rains rose to six in the state. This Saturday (4), only two dams were in an emergency situation with “risk of imminent failure, requiring measures to preserve lives”.

The rains that have hit the state since last week have affected more than 780,700 people and left 75 people dead.

In total, 18 dams in the state present some level of fragility. In addition to the six dams in the most critical situation, another five are at “alert level”, which is when “anomalies represent a risk to the safety of the dam, requiring measures to maintain safety conditions”.

There are also seven dams at “attention level”, which is when “anomalies do not compromise the safety of the dam in the short term, but require monitoring, control or repair over time”.

In addition to the 14 de Julho dam, which partially failed last Thursday (2) between the Rio Grande do Sul cities of Cotiporã and Bento Gonçalves, the PCH Salto Forqueta dam, in São José do Herval and Putinga, is at imminent risk of failure. In Salto Forqueta, “damage to the right bank of the dam and damage to the Power House, caused by numerous landslides”, were identified.

The São Miguel dam, in Bento Gonçalves, is also at an emergency level with risk of rupture; the SDR dam, in Eldorado do Sul; the Saturnino de Brito dam, in São Martinho da Serra; and the Arroio Barracão dam, in Bento Gonçalves

Level of alertness and attention

Among the dams at alert level in cities in Rio Grande do Sul are the Dona Francisca HPP, in Nova Palma; the Bugres-Barragem Divisa HPP, in Canela; the Capané dam, in Cachoeira do Sul; the B2 dam, in São Jerônimo; and the Tupi dam, in Taquari.

The other seven dams at “attention level” are: HPP Bugres-Barragem do Blang and HPP Canastra, both in Canela; the Monte Claro HPP, in Bento Gonçalves and Veranópolis; the Castro Alves HPP, in Nova Roma do Sul and Nova Pádua; the PCH Furnas do Segredo dam, in Jaguari; in addition to the Samuara and Dal Bó dams, both in Caxias do Sul.

The state government also informed that it continues to monitor the Santa Lúcia dams, in Putinga; New from the Estate of Aldo Malta Dihl, in Glorinha; Belo Monte, in Eldorado do Sul; and Filhos de Sepé, in Viamão.

Monitoring of these dams is carried out by the Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (Sema), the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) and the National System Operator (ONS).